ComBE Five safe for kids: doctor

Wednesday, April 25, 2018 15:11

Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, head of the Infection Department of the Pediatrcis Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City affirmed the safety of replacing vaccine ComBE advising parents to take their children to medical facilities for injection.

He made the statement at the press brief on new vaccine in the National Expanded Immunization Program on April 24 in the city. Following the public's concern over whether the new vaccine is safe for kids, the press brief was held with the participation of medical experts to give feedback.

Head of the Preventive Department under the Ministry of Health Dr. Tran Dac Phu, said the new vaccine has similar ingredients like vaccine Quinvaxem.

According to Dr. Phu, the new vaccine meets the World Health Organization’s standard and 400 million vaccine dozes have been injected for kids in 43 nations. It was piloted in small groups of kids in four districts in the northern province of Ha Nam.

Over 70 percent of kids suffered pain and swelling where the shot was given; over 30 percent of them experienced fever while some refused to breastfeed or eat.

Whole-cell pertussis vaccines prove better than acellular vaccine and its
effectiveness is longer than the acellular kind.

Additionally, Vietnam has 1.7 million newly-born babies ; under the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) , price of vaccine ComBe Five is suitable with Vietnamese government’s budget condition.

In May, vaccine ComBE Five will be used in four provinces before it will be used nationwide in June. In addition to vaccine ComBE Five, two other vaccines will also be added in the National Expanded Immunization Program; one made by Vietnam and other made by France.